I definitely feel like I'm on the home stretch now. My toiletries have begun to run out raising the necessity of visiting a pharmacy to buy more, and considering how overwhelming supermarkets here are (which don't sell anything but food) I dread to think what I'd end up leaving with - is it toothpaste or is it face cream? One way to find out! My brain has wandered unbidden to all the things I'm going to do when I get home: lazing in my dressing gown, drinking cups of tea, starting DIY projects (with the best intentions to finish them), developing some of these photos I've been taking. As if my layabout lifestyle isn't going to come rushing back to me as soon as I open the door to my cinema room. The unasked question that hung in the air before I left was whether I would be coming back? Unequivocally yes. I have no desire to shift my life into hard mode and I like far too many of my creature comforts to give them up, however temporarily. Plus you know, friends, family, life etc. Besides, no one has yet offered me an all expenses paid, salaried job travelling around Japan taking photos. That's the kind of proposal that would make me rethink my position.
Apr 8, 2023 • Subscribe
More like this
Geisha spotting, Kyoto crowds and the thorny issue of over-tourism
Alastair Donnelly, one of our founders, shares his thoughts on over-tourism in Kyoto, the crowds, and geisha spotting.
#10 — Gatchaman Crowds (2013) and Gatchaman Crowds insight (2015)
To this day, my cellphone wallpaper is Gatchaman Crowds‘ Hajime Ichinose. She’s pulling a confused look as fellow gatchaman team member Sugune Tachibana admits that he only uses…
Issue 20, 2023 - He's Not a Robot!?
We don't say yes, we say affirmative
Exploring Aesthetic Museums and Glass Shrines on Naoshima
Glass shrine floating on a pond at the Benesse House Art Site. Over the last three days I have been traveling through a chain of tropical art islands…
Gatchaman In Gatchaman Crowds
While Gatchaman Crowds episode 1 is unmistakably a Kenji Nakamura directed show, there was more of the original Gatchaman in there than I was expecting, even if it…
Single of the Week: "Crowds" by WHITE ASH (Gatchaman Crowds OP)
As hinted last week , Gatchaman Crowds hosts this week's "Single of the Week" with "Crowds" by WHITE ASH. Unlike Eccentric Family , I...
Gatchaman, Gatchaman Crowds, Tsuritama, The Eccentric Family
Temples and Shrines Devoted to Mythical Creatures in Japan
Exploring sacred places in Japan for ghost, demons and tricksters.
Best Shrines For Hatsumode in Japan
Our choices for the top Shinto shrines to ring in the New Year in Japan.
Evaluting Gatchaman Crowds Through Rui’s Outfits
12 Days of Aniblogging 2020, Day 1 Oh, I’m fashionably late to this one. Gatchaman Crowds is a 2013 superhero anime that serves as a soft reboot of the…
How to Avoid Golden Week Crowds
With multiple national holidays packed into one week, millions of locals and tourists hit the roads. Here's how to avoid Golden Week crowds.
Japan’s Shrines and Temples Goes Cashless to Thwart Donation Box Thefts
With Hatsumode - the first shrine visit of the New Year - fast approaching, some shrines say they're going digital to stop criminals.
Cert Issue
Cert Issue Ugh. Looks like my website certificate failed to auto-update and so the site gets ultra scary warnings like this. I’m not selling anything on the site…
Inside Yamazaki Distillery: Peaceful Shrines, Rogue Schoolchildren, and Whisky (Lots of It.)
To celebrate Suntory Whisky’s 100th anniversary, the company is releasing Hakushu highballs in canned form, sold at conbinis near you for 600 yen a pop. It’s as good…
Gatchaman Crowds – Why Do I Like This?
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Super Hero, Voting, Episodes s1: 12 OVA inbound: 1 Episodes s2 insight: 12 Studio: Tatsunoko Production I think we each have a quintessential…
Machida: All The Shopping Without The Crowds
Twenty-seven stops from Shinjuku might make Machida sound like a journey, but it offers all the shopping of central Tokyo without the crowds.
Conformity, mob mentality, and intersectionality in Gatchaman Crowds Insight vs. Yurikuma Arashi
Both series, at the surface level, encourage their audiences to be mindful and critical of the ideas they’re asked to buy into as the price of inclusion. However,…
Issue 21 - castles and a cold mountain
Why are you stopping? Oh you're looking at your phone right at the top of the escalator. Oh you're unsure which way to go so you're standing right…
Sports Anime and the One Year Issue
I want to go into this first by mentioning that I am not the largest sports anime or manga expert at all. If you want, I can point…
Why Shinto Shrines Are Abandoning Their Controversial Association
Since 1969, the Association of Shinto Shrines has overseen most shrines in Japan. But ongoing controversies are driving some away.
Issue #73: Remember
The year's last issue brings the newsletter's 50 best anime songs of 2023 and a hit from Sukeban Deka, along with the usual 3 singles
Issue #81: Botanical
Discussing the new Plant cell album, Omega Tribe's big '80s hit with S. Kiyotaka and songs from this season's J-drama shows
Issue #68: Optics
Exploring the Koh-Gaku EPs, Naoko Kawai's number-one double A-side and Ano's viral hit "Chu, Tayousei"
Issue #70: Journey
Exploring the new Yurufuwa Gang album, X JAPAN's first number-one and favorite J-drama tie-ins of the year
Issue #72: Launchvox
Discussing the new Yuka Nagase album, ZONE's "secret base," and favorite songs from this year's summer J-dramas
Issue #87: Liberation
Exploring the new JUBEE album, Elephant Kashimashi's breakthrough hit and the film Let's Go Karaoke!
Issue #77: Naive
Discussing the new rowbai and ZARD's "Makenaide," plus recommendations from friends of the newsletter
Issue #68 postponed
A quick update on the upcoming newsletter
Issue #92: Walls
Exploring the new Laura day romance album and Seiko Matsuda's "Rock'n Rouge," plus guest recommendations of new singles
Issue #90: Lux
The first issue of 2025 highlights the new Suichu Spica album, Saki Kubota's "Ihojin" and some footnotes regarding the '80s hit and the surrounding Silk Road boom
Issue 16 - vulcanology
Just wrapping up week five and thus far on this trip the only place I've been to before has been Sapporo though I remember very little of my…
Issue 24 - adjustment
Now that my trip is over I can say things that I didn't dare say during it for fear of karmic retribution, like: wow was I flipping healthy…
Issue #96: u:phobia
This Side of Japan is back to discuss the new Emma Aibara album, GLAY's "HOWEVER" and Perfume's new single for the latest Chihayafuru spin-off
15 Matchmaking Shrines in Tokyo to Visit for Love
Have you ever prayed for love? Did it work? If not, here's a list of matchmaking shrines in Tokyo for love.
SOME ANIME AND MY BIGGEST ISSUE WITH THEM
Here’s another trash post as I just couldn’t come up with another ideas. FIRE FORCE Sometimes, the episodes drag out too long or feels like that. It’s just…
Battlefield V: TTK and The Issue of Community Influence
We live in a world where Reddit users have become game desin gers. Also, Battlefield V's time to kill (TTK) SHOULD be changed? Why?
Issue #80: Balallel World
This Side of Japan returns with the new bala album, Kinki Kids' "Jet Coaster Romance" and more recommendations from our friends
Year 1 Issue 14
Arcadia Dragnet, Year 1, Issue 14 April 1 - 7, 2020 Welcome back to Arcadia Dragnet, are you all…
Cool Cool Bye, Demon City Shinjuku, Initial D First Stage, ISEKAI QUARTET, Magical DoReMi
Year 1 Issue 3
Arcadia Dragnet, Year 1, Issue 3 January 15-21 2020 As I continue to figure out how to make Arcadia Dragnet most comprehensive and usef...
Hello Kitty, Drifting Dragons, Paris no Isabel, Dangard Ace, 22/7 (nanabun no nijyuuni)
Issue #88: Lost Corner
Covering the new Kenshi Yonezu album, Aiko's "Hanabi" and the "Team Tomodachi" remixes from all across Asia
Year 1 Issue 12
Arcadia Dragnet, Year 1, Issue 12 March 18 - 24, 2020 Well folks, I've had a tough week to…
ISEKAI QUARTET, Interspecies Reviewers, Kaiketsu Zorori, Laughing Salesman, A Certain Scientific Railgun
Year 1 Issue 25
Arcadia Dragnet, Year 1, Issue 25 June 17 - 23, 2020 Welcome back to Arcadia Dragnet let's go! …
SING "YESTERDAY" FOR ME, Yo-Kai Watch, Girly Air Force, Wave, Listen to Me!, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress
Year 1 Issue 9
Arcadia Dragnet, Year 1, Issue 9 February 26 - March 3, 2020 Hello everyone and welcome back to…
Beyblade Burst GT, Girls und Panzer, Hello Kitty, Kaiketsu Zorori, Shooting Star Gakusaver
Issue #78: Finger Runs
Highlighting the new Finger Runs album, JUDY AND MARY's "Sobakasu, and the songs heard in this season's J-dramas
Year 1 Issue 10
Arcadia Dragnet, Year 1, Issue 10 March 4 - 10, 2020 Hello, welcome back to Arcadia Dragnet. I…
Natsunagu!, The Golden Bird, Kaiketsu Zorori, Haguregumo, ISEKAI QUARTET
Year 1 Issue 23
Arcadia Dragnet, Year 1, Issue 23 June 3 - 9, 2020 Welcome back to Arcadia Dragnet! Yup, we're way…
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Wave, Listen to Me!, Big Windup!, Tower of God
Year 1 Issue 11
Arcadia Dragnet, Year 1, Issue 11 March 11 - 17, 2020 Welcome back to Arcadia Dragnet, folks, how're you all holding…
Bobby ni Kubittake, ISLAND, Natsunagu!, Nora, Magical DoReMi
Year 1 Issue 7
Arcadia Dragnet, Year 1, Issue 7 February 12 - 18, 2020 Welcome back to Arcadia Dragnet, hope you…
Issue #89: Terminal Disease
The last issue for the year covers the new ASP album, Namie Amuro's "GIRL TALK" and our top 50 TikTok songs of 2024
Year 1 Issue 6
Arcadia Dragnet, Year 1, Issue 6 February 5 - 11, 2020 Hello and welcome back to Arcadia Dragnet.…
MegaMan NT Warrior, Symphogear, Magical DoReMi, Senya Ichiya Monogatari, Symphogear XV